He added: “There certainly is a growing demand or foodbank’s services and and it’s reflection of the difficult times.”

“By working together – we hope together with the supermarkets – we aim to help as many of the residents in need as we can.”

Here’s the full text of Bishop Tim’s letter. There’s some links below it to Food Bank.

From: Rt Revd Tim Thornton

“Re: Foodbank Cornwall

As you will know Cornwall is a large county nearly 100 miles long and 50 miles wide (at its widest).

With a population of 535k of which currently 116k are over 65 and is made up of 18 main towns of which the largest has a population of approximately 23k.

It has 240 parishes made up with many small villages with large rural areas.

Over recent years Cornwall has not been prosperous, its economy reliant in the main with low paid seasonal work.

Yet with European funding being given to Cornwall it has started to gain ground economically.

Whilst this has been a slow process, the recent recession and comprehensive spending review has stalled this progress.

One thing Cornwall does have is community spirit, with one of the highest volunteer rates in the country.

Our churches are an integral part of community life with active involvement in many areas, befriending meetings, homelessness and social care.

But sometimes even when we work together the problem is overloaded by the capacity of need.

This is currently so with Foodbank within Cornwall: in many areas need outstrips capacity.

Currently in areas such as Camborne, Foodbank provide 30 families with support for a maximum of 3 weeks, this decision relates to the gap from losing a job to gaining social benefits.

Many of these households may need more help and this happens when capacity allows.

Recently new Foodbanks opened in the Penzance and Hayle areas.

Our reason for writing is to ask for your help in meeting the need for Foodbank in our community via the placement of food boxes in your stores to enable the community to donate as they shop or give shops the ability to donate excess stock.

These are difficult times for the community of Cornwall and by working together we aim to help as many of the residents in need as we can.

Your organisations help would be appreciated in these difficult times.”

Yours,

Rt Revd Tim Thornton
Bishop of Cornwall

Could you use some free food?

If you or your family are really struggling to feed yourselves food banks are always happy to help out: